In the previous Rachmaninoff's Table post, I covered a very popular prelude from Rachmaninoff's Op.32 set of thirteen. As well as the very first Rachmaninoff post featured the No.5 from Op.32.

Since I covered two of my three favorite from that set, I figured I might as well feature the third. It is the Prelude in B minor, op.32, No.10 . All 13 were composed throughout the year of 1910 and are among the most challenging pieces ever composed for solo piano.

The No.10 prelude is in my opinion the most dramatic and sorrow-filled prelude of the thirteen. An overwhelming sense of despair emerges immediately in the piece in a dotted rhythm and a bell-tone type motive that occurs in various forms and frequently. The prelude then dives into a thunderous middle section of drastic chords with the simple melody from the beginning embedded within. It is here where the prelude is its most compelling and dramatic. A brief interlude of the original motive returns, followed by a thrilling cadenza which brings the prelude back to its opening theme in a variated form where it finishes cautiously.


Performed by Sviatoslav Richter in 1971

It's technical aspirations are significantly lower than the remaining preludes but as you can see, requires extensive detail and a good musical heart to perform with the heart Rachmaninoff had in writing it.